Zelus (Perseus Reimagined) (BXB)

Chapter 43

"We'll get through this. We'll bring that bitch's head and shove it up the king's ass."

???

"HERE," HE HANDS ME A peach. "Eat something. We have a long journey ahead of us."

He plops next to me; his legs stretch out as his back leans against the oak tree we're taking refuge under. He was to sit farther because my wings practically occupied a one-person space.

His teeth sink into the fruit. He pulls back, his lips glistening from its juice that rolls down to his chin. The firelight before us danced in his eyes, and so did our shadows. His armors were kept aside. Now he's merely resting in his tunic, stained from his sweat. I can smell the salt of him, blend with the grapeseed oil the servants would always rub on his feet, and the sweetness of the fruit.

I gaze ahead. The forest is another entity when the sun goes down. Dark and threatening with the melody of her children. Coyotes howl from a distance, the eerie wind passing through the leaves and sudden dashes emerging from the shadows.

Perseus isn't bothered by her surprises. She could send an ancient tree tumbling down his way, and he'd only dodge it. She couldn't get to him as he was immune to fear. Or at least, I believe he is.

"Did mother send you?" He faces me, hunching forward.

"I made a promise, remember?"

"Even after what I've done, you still came?"

"I guess so."

His eyes reach for the skies, and I follow.

Today's a full moon. It brought me home to the marketplace. I'd wander the empty streets on nights like this to waste my time. More often than not, I'd have my head in the clouds where the moon is, reminiscing my old life. My family, friends, and Ryan. I like to believe that we're all looking at the same moon no matter where we are, dead or alive.

Heck, it was the moon that helped me find Perseus's whereabouts. And a pinch of magic, of course. I was able to cast a ray of light on where he was. And even though it took me hours to cast that spell, in the end, I found him by a stream, dismounting his stallion and preparing for the night.

"Are you appalled by my presence, young prince?" I mock a royal tone.

"Never," he said immediately, though his eyes were still lost in the sky. "As long as the sun continues to rise, my eyes will never grow tired of witnessing you, my daimon."

"Are you sure about that? I may look like this now, but have you seen me after a shower? I look like a wet dog," I joked, and his eyes were on mine once again, smiling softly.

"Fortunately for you, I happen to love dogs just as much as people; thank you very much," he returns the same energy.

"So, you're, in a way, agreeing I'm a dog?"

"You said it, not me," he shrugs his shoulders.

"Well then, hear me bark!" I begin barking like a dog or a dog on seizure as I'm doing a very poor job at it.

"I'd keep it down if I were you," he laughs. "We don't want the bears to find us here."

"Fine," I plop down, scowling on purpose. He found humor in it, that is until his smile fades, and we're back at the beginning. He pulls his legs close to his chest, resting his arms over his knees, head leaning back.

"Forgive me," he said. "I didn't know what got over me yesterday. And it's because of it, I assumed I would be alone on this journey. Fortunately, I was wrong."

I hold my palm facing up, a small flame, vivid green as a seedling's first leaf sprouts on my command, hovering over it. I felt the tingles in my veins and my heart racing for a moment. They reminded me that I was a walking bomb, and the entire forest would be burned to ashes with one wrong move.

"You don't have to apologize," I said, eying the emerald flame over my hand. "If anything, I have to say, thank you. Something from that day had awakened my powers, and I'm finally in control of them. I no longer have to fear myself."

The flame found its way to Perseus. He held his palm out just like I did, and the flame transfigured into an actual emerald stone. The size of a thumb, a rough and yet glittering body that retains its green hue.

He picks it from the air as if the stone isn't burning hot and studies it, eyes curious as a puppy with his first chew toy.

I had no idea if I was meant to do that, but it felt weird or remarkable to know that I could also form gemstones.

"I don't get it," he studies the rock. "Why would you give me this?"

"I don't know either," I closed my eyes and imagined a golden string resting in my grasp. I felt the sudden ice-cold sting, and my eyes opened to see an actual golden string dangling on my hand. The gold glints in the firelight, reminding me of the classic fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin. I recall reading the storybook at the public library and witnessing the 2D straws made into gold. The string in my hand looks identical to it. It is as though Rumpelstiltskin had spared me a length.

Together with the emerald, a necklace was made. I hooked it around his neck, and the stone sat directly between his collarbones. If my knowledge is right, emerald symbolizes love and truth. They're the cousins to rubies. I don't know much about the Goddess Venus, but many believe the stone is associated with her.

I back away and marvel at the view of a Greek hero wearing a necklace. I hope Venus is watching us from Olympus because I want her to know I'm ready to move on. I had my closure, and as painful as it is, I'm finally ready to move on.

"It matches your eyes," I smile.

"I shall treasure this with my life," he closed the stone in his palm, and I gazed up to meet his eyes. I perceive a man trying to hide the fact that he is scared of what is coming. A mask that wasn't obvious to many but me.

"You're scared, aren't you?"

He didn't answer.

"It's not a prince's job to be scared of anything, especially when his mother's fate hangs in the balance," he sighs, chugging down the water he got from the nearby river. He exhales after pulling back as though he'd been holding his breath the entire time.

"Prince or a demigod, you're still half-human, and with that, you get their weaknesses as well. Regardless of how hard you try to hide it from others, you'll never escape them in your head," I said. "I learned that the hard way."

He gave a thin-lip smile and shrugged his shoulders.

"We'll get through this. We'll bring that bitch's head and shove it up the king's ass," I pull out a piece of bread that he had packed for the journey and separate them into two parts, handing him one. "I'll catch you when the clouds can no longer hold you, and no matter what happens, I'll be by your side every step of the way."

He took the bread, picking the crumbs absentmindedly.

"I've already eaten," he sounds confused.

"Oh please, one fruit isn't enough. Eat up and rest. As you said, we got a long journey to the Graeae's," I take a bite of the stale bread. "Let's just hope those witches wouldn't lead us to a death trap."